Dominion no longer pursuing second Richmond office tower

Utility cites gas business sale, working from home as reasons

Published April 19, 2021 by Rich Griset

Dominion Energy Inc. no longer plans to pursue a second office tower in downtown Richmond.

Last week, the Richmond-based utility notified the city that it no longer plans to pursue construction of 700 Canal Place, a proposed 17-floor office tower that would complement 600 Canal Place, a 960,000-square-foot, 20-floor office tower that opened in 2019. The structures were supposed to complete a two-building campus in Richmond’s downtown.

Reached via email, Dominion spokesman Ryan Frazier said that the company declined to pursue the second tower for two reasons: the utility had sold off its natural gas transmission and storage assets, leading to an employee reduction of 300; and that 35% of the company’s total workforce — and most of its downtown employees — have worked remotely for the past 13 months, and Dominion plans to offer more work flexibility to its employees than it did prior to the pandemic.

“We have enough office space to meet our current and future needs,” Frazier said.

Last May, Dominion demolished One James River Plaza, a 22-story building that previously housed the utility’s headquarters. Dominion is considering alternative uses for the site.

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